Category Archives: Sporting

It’s not very often you get to race on the full circuit of Sydney Motorsport Park but on the weekend of The Shannons Sydney Classic run by the CMC the Morgan Owners Club of Australia have a supersprint which opens up the Brabham Circuit! Yes that’s right on Saturday 12th August the full 4.5km circuit is available for your racing pleasure.

As the midlife crisis starts to go into full boost one starts preparing a “bucketlist”. As most of us know this is a list of things to do before you die. My own bucket list was ill-conceived, unprepared and really only contained one thing – a dash round the ring. Winning a trip to the CeBit technology seminar in Hannover last year provided the necessary catalyst.

I got in contact with RSR Nurburg who I’ve seen many times on YouTube. They seem to relish the Renault Megane and rate it highly as the best all-rounder available to tackle the green hell. The key contact Ray Shepardson, was exceptionally helpful and organised a RHD Megane RS 265 as the weapon of choice. Interestingly they only hire out the Megane in dangerous conditions due to its predictable handling, unless you are of course Sabine Schmitz.

Ray also suggested a few places to stay including the “Longhorn Saloon” owned by no other than the abovementioned Frau Schmitz.

Lap Day – worst possible scenario

There is a Murphy’s law that follows me around like a spectre perhaps because of my Irish ancestry. My outing coincided with “Mad Dog” Friday and a whole lot of rain making an already tricky circuit treacherous! You see in Germany, Friday is “car day” and every boy, man, girl and his or her respective dogs are out in their cars. Think of it as a high-tech Summer Nats without the mullets. Scary. To put it bluntly my undergarments were in danger of becoming a biohazard.

Getting to the circuit early gave me a fairly clear track free of spinning metal boxes. The excitable boys and the raced up Beemers were probably scared off by the conditions and the Megane’s impeccable sure-footedness made what I though was going to be an ordeal into a fun and highly rewarding experience. I drove the car way below its capabilities achieving 12 something minute laps. However I probably overtook more cars than overtook me so I think this weighed up as reasonable effort for a newbie. One thing for sure, “I’ll be back” (yes I know he’s Austrian).

Sabine and the Longhorn

I often go to trip advisor or booking.com and put a review on places I have stayed. They rate certain facilities in these establishments from Poor right up to Excellent. It’s no use doing that for the Longhorn saloon as the scale requires something higher than just plain ol’ Excellent. Arriving from Hannover with the family in a hired car, a female figure dressed in stable cloths, literally covered in muck, came to directly down to greet us. It was rather a surreal experience I must say. The voice was instantly recognisable as we the dark, determined eyes. “How was your trip” she asked. Slightly star-struck and taken aback I answered “not bad considering I drove all the way on the wrong side of the road”. Yes, I know, a great start – contact me for more lessons in the Denis Ryan School of how to win friends and influence people….l

I’ll resist the temptation to rave on but I will just say Sabine and the hotel’s staff member Melanie were fabulous hosts. The Saloon is an Oak log cabin fully imported from Canada with tons of cowboy and western paraphernalia. Both types of music stream from the internet radio. As busy as she is, Sabine took time to sit down with us and chew the fat. As we were the only ones there at the time so we had her and the establishment to ourselves until she left to do some more Top Gear filming in Kharakastan. There is a lot to do and Liam loved the animals and the horse rides. As for Sabine, she is an extraordinary person who is incredibly down to earth and has her fingers in many pies; a champion driver, horse rider, helicopter pilot and animal welfares, caring for many elderly or unwanted horses, dogs, cats , pigs, whatever. Wow.

So on that note it’s time I extend the bucket list. London to Sydney in a P76 – any volunteers?

The Renault Car Club Australia (RCCA) based in NSW will be represented with 6 crews at this year’s 25th edition of Targa Tasmania. The RCCA, and Renault, have a long history in Motorport. 110 years ago, Renault won the very first Grand Prix, the 1906 French GP, and continued winning in the World Rally Championship (Alpine, R5 Turbo), Le Mans and F1 as well as breaking several world speed records .

Showcasing some of Renault’s sporting history at this year’s Targa Tasmania will be:

The RCCA, believed to be the oldest Renault Car Club worldwide, was founded in 1951 and has a long history in Motor Sport. In 1956, the Regie Renault Rally was inaugurated and by 1985 the club was running 4 State level motorsport events: 2 rallies, 1 hillclimb and 1 motorkhana. The club’s Jugiong Interstate Motorkhana Challenge is now in its 52nd year. Today the club continues to be involved in State Motorkhanas and has something like six current and previous Australian Motorkhana champions, not to mention many State and class champions in its ranks. The RCCA caters for all Renaults, old and new, and besides its sporting activities, has a very active social calendar catering for a wide range of members who are passionate about their Renaults.

Both Ted Merewether and Andrew Collier have been members of the RCCA since their late teens and are passionate about their Renaults and motorsport.

Andrew followed in his father Bruce Collier’s (famous rally man of the 60 and 70s and contemporary of Bob Watson) foot steps and started dirt rallying in a R8 back in the early 80s. He then turned to Motorkhanas in a Renault Special winning the Australian Championship 3 times and the NSW Championship 13 times!

Andrew bought his pearlescent white 1985 R5 Turbo 2 back in 2006 Although based on the Renault 5, the car is radically different, being rear wheel drive and mid engined with a tubular chassis to support the engine and transmission. The car was built by Renault to compete in the World Rally Championship in the early 80s, with wins in Rally Monte Carlo and Tour de Corse driven by Jean Ragnotti. Only 3,500 R5 Turbo were built between 1980 and 1986.

Andrew’s car, although mildly modified, still sports the original 1397cc, 4 cylinder fuel injected turbo charged cross flow engine, which in road going trim produced around 160hp. Andrew has added a Tour De Course camshaft and larger intercooler to improve performance to around 200hp. With its wide back and fat tyres, it is an impressive sight from any angle.

Andrew and wife Belinda have competed in Targa events since 2011 and the R5 Turbo 2 has proved to be a fun car to drive on those twisty Tasmanian and High Country roads.

Ted, like Andrew started competing in dirt rallies in his R10 back in the 80s. He bought his ex-Renault press fleet 2007 Renault Sport Mégane R26 back in 2009. The Mégane RS is a series of hot hatch models based on the Renault Mégane, built since 2004. The latest version, the 275hp, sub 6 sec 0-100kmh RS275, currently holds the lap record at the Nürnburgring at a time of 7:54.36.

Ted has improved the car over the years, but kept it pretty standard. The 2 litre turbo engine was slightly tuned and output increased by 15% to around the output of a standard Mégane RS265. Upgraded front brakes, brake cooling ducts, camber and castor adjustment kits were also added.

Ted together with navigator Jen Gillott have competed in the last 3 Targa Tasmania and High Country events and enjoyed every minute of it. “Although we reached a 205kph top speed at the 2015 Targa High Country”, Ted says. “ it’s the corners that this car really loves – it was just made for these twisty and challenging Targa roads !”

The best part of Targa rallying for all of us from the Renault Car Club (apart from the speed-induced adrenalin) ? –It’s the company of like-minded car enthusiasts all enjoying their cars and these fantastic events.

The year the weather was mild but day got rather dusty as things progressed. There were 27 competitors, 6 tests x 2 runs each with the events starting at 10 amand finishing at 1 pm. All over in 3 hours!

Mons. Andrew Collier won by 0.01 secs from Aaron W. It was an extremely close event with four former Aust Motorkhana champs competing this year. Not mentioning state and class champs as well.

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